The Dangers of a Ludwig’s Angina Dental Abscess

The Dangers of a Ludwig’s Angina Dental Abscess

Have you been experiencing neck pain and swelling of your tongue? It could be Ludwig’s angina, a skin infection that affects the floor of your mouth.

While the condition is curable with prompt treatment, it could cause some serious complications. Therefore, it is important that you know what signs to look for so that you can visit your dentist right away if needed.

What Causes Ludwig’s Angina?

This condition is a bacterial infection that often follows a problem with the mouth, such as a tooth abscess. Trauma to the mouth or poor dental hygiene could also contribute to the problem.

What Are the Signs of Ludwig’s Angina?

Ludwig’s angina tends to follow an infection or mouth injury, and some of the primary signs include:

Drooling

Difficulty swallowing

Tenderness and pain under the tongue on the floor of the mouth

Neck pain

Difficulty with speech

Redness and swelling in the neck

Fatigue and weakness

Swollen tongue

Earache

Chills and fever

What Can Be Done to Treat Ludwig’s Angina?

If it is determined that you do have Ludwig’s angina, your dentist will likely prescribe either oral or IV antibiotics. If there was any other oral infection present that contributed to the condition, those infections also need to be addressed.

In some cases, surgery might also be needed in order to drain excessive fluid that might be causing swelling in your mouth.

Can Ludwig’s Angina Be Prevented?

Ludwig’s angina is not be entirely preventable but, there are things that you can do to reduce your risk. Practice good oral hygiene and ensure that you are visiting your dentist every six months.

You should also seek prompt treatment for any infection in your mouth or tooth so that it doesn’t spread to cause more serious complications.

Categories

There are many ways to communicate with our offices. Please choose a way that you are most comfortable with, and that is easiest for you! We want to remain available to all of our patients and doctors who may have questions or concerns, so please feel free to contact us! Our team goes above and beyond to make sure that our patients receive the best care!